State Representative and President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Alicia Reece (D-Cincinnati) discussed Ohioans’ battle with voter suppression and disenfranchisement during her testimony before the Presidential Commission on Election Administration today.

“Ohioans have had to fight to have their provisional ballots counted and have faced voter suppression tactics, including attempts to shorten early voting periods and implement stricter voter ID laws,” said Rep. Reece. “We expect leadership from our statewide elected officials, especially from those tasked with overseeing the fundamental American right to vote. Unfortunately, the actions of Ohio’s elected officials are clearly aimed at restricting voter participation.”

Rep. Reece offered her view of best practices for elections and her proposal for a Voter Bill of Rights, which would secure permanent voting rights for Ohioans and ensure that our right to vote will not be infringed upon at the whim of state officials, regardless of the party in charge.

“The Voter Bill of Rights would define the right to vote as a fundamental right, establish early voting dates and times, allow the legislature to prescribe proper training and staffing for polling locations, create an online voter registration system, protect against voter ID requirements and voter registration tests, and include safeguards that ensure provisional ballots are counted,” Rep. Reece explained.